Brass

Lately, I have noticed that Nate has quite a collection of brass instruments. He started playing the trumpet around age 11, and has continued on virtually on his own, without lessons since we can't seem to find anyone who knows much more than the beginning level. He has had the privilege of joining the public schools in their bands for several years, and now will start  his third year of the Bangor Symphony Youth Orchestra. Auditions are this Sunday! Over time, his interest in brass instruments has grown. He loads brass intrumentals onto his ipod for pleasure listening, too.
He has a trombone that he actually found at the dump in perfect condition, just missing a mouth piece. He brought it home, shined it up, found a mouth piece, and began learning it. Turns out, this particular instrument is much different than trumpet, so he hasn't gotten very far with this one.
 Next, a sweet man in our church, realizing Nate's growing love for the instrument, dug around in his attic until he found his old trumpet, and gave it to Nate. Turns out, this instrument is a better instrument than the one he had, so once cleaned and shined up, he started to use this one most of the time.
Our trip to Michigan this summer found Nate intensely interested in the bugle that the men in a reenactment at an old fort were playing. So, Grandpapa, who insists that he doesn't get to spoil these particular grandkids very much, bought him one from the gift store. We thought that it was just a replica or a toy, but turns out, it's a very nice instrument. Nate made his Grandparents so proud when he played "Reveille" first thing in the morning. haha.
Nate's most recent acquirement is a fluglehorn, gifted to him by a dear friend of our family. He immediately took to playing it, and now plays it more often then his regular trumpet. The sound is a bit different, and he finds that it requires more breath control, too, but overall, he is doing well with it. You can be the judge. Enjoy the video of Nate playing before a recent service at our church.

Blessings

Our time here in Lincoln has often been interesting, often difficult, often fun, but none of those things compare to how often we are blessed by God's goodness living in this place. We tend to notice the hardships and sacrifice and merely give a nod to the blessings. Even when Scripture clearly states that we are to "come into His presence with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise." We pray and plead and whine and complain with a quick "thank you for your many blessings."
 So, to break this habit in our family, we began our Blessings and Miracles List. You know the hymn...Count your blessings, name them one by one. We decided to do this during a particular time  when we needed patience and trust in our Heavenly Father's plan. We started out with tears over a certain disappointment and ended with laughter and praise with a different sort of tears.
Here's a few on our list.
We started with older miracles, such as, Alana's birth and subsequent time in the NICU. You can read about that here, if you're interested.
We progressed to losing some friends and a very difficult time thereafter when God gave us comfort and peace. We  moved on from there to my Mom's health and how God provided strength for all of us during her treatments and how He allowed the treatments to take affect and help her get better. From there, we got more up to date.

Amazing provision during a time of joblessness for Mikayla's high schooling and Nate's and Alana's school books.

Amazing open doors for scholarships, both for her high school and for her college.

Amazingly, we forgot about some funds that we had through BJU Press and they were made available for Mikayla so she could start her Freshman year of college on time.

Amazing provision during a recent stint of joblessness. It was just constant. A steady stream of people whose hearts the Lord touched and used to provide for us. Whether just a word, a card, or a few staples for our pantry, the Lord used it all to bless our bodies and souls.

 Amazing peace over our future, because without a job, we would have to relocate.

An amazing growth spurt in our family, not just physically for which He provided clothing, but spiritually as we were forced to rest and wait on Him again. Our whole family was touched in one way or another during this time, and learning to rest in Him is one of the most difficult lessons.

An amazing vacation was provided for our 'weary in well doing' spirits by our loving family and a few others that slipped us bills on their way out the door with whispered words of appreciation and care. Ah, yes, that's what turned the emotion completely around!

Amazingly, even when the joblessness has ended, the provision has continued daily. Daily fresh vegetables from generous people's lovely gardens, so my grocery bill has been almost cut in half.

Amazing peace after praying that God would lift a burden and disappointment from my tired heart. Peace came, easing the disappointment and helping with the burden.

Amazing leading and strength to do VBS at our church this summer. We were tired. We were whiny. We didn't want to do it AGAIN. We complained that we  didn't see much fruit from the labor that is VBS. But, encouraged by older, wiser Christians, we pressed on, threw ourselves into it with all our might, praying everyday to let it be used of God, and falling dead tired into bed every night. What a blessing for our church family and ourselves to be able to lead ten children to Christ one evening after the lesson. It's like God was grinning at us and saying, "Not a fruitful endeavor, huh? Let me show you what happens when you serve me with all your might, mind, and spirit." With tears of repentance, I came to Him for forgiveness after that. What a lesson.

Amazing strength to start teaching a Junior in high school, when I had no particular trust in myself to be able to do it, and a downright panic attack as the start date loomed. I added all my other responsibilities on a big long list and steamed over it and ranted about it. Until....Oh, yes, I remember, "My help comes from the Lord which made Heaven and Earth." It's not me that's doing it, that is for sure and certain.

Amazingly, God has smoothed out some rough spots as Mikayla started her Sophomore year at college this week. She hadn't been able to find work after the place she was working closed unexpectedly. Because of this she had very little money for books, but all her books are purchased and her first tuition bill paid in full as of the today. Other spots that needed smoothing, God took care of, too. She was worried, we were praying. Spots are smoother. God is good. He works in our children's lives. She is learning and growing and maturing, too, as He teaches her patience and trust.  It's been fascinating to watch. In this, Mom and Dad have to learn to let go. God is at work and His way of teaching is much better than ours. His plan for her is perfect.

Oh, my, I could go on and on, but this is already long enough and you get the point. What did we learn/relearn from the exercise?  That God provides daily, often before we ask. He provides for every aspect of our lives, no matter how big or small. He give grace to the humble, strength to the weak, mercy to the sinful, and love and comfort when we are low in spirit. His mercies are new every morning. Praise His name!

Here's a favorite song for me lately. It touches my heart every time I hear it. May it bless your heart as well.

Mercies Anew.